Politics

Ize-Iyamu Emerges APC Governorship Candidate As PDP Aspirant Steps Down For Obaseki

As widely expected, former South-South zonal secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu on Monday in Benin City emerged the governorship candidate of the APC.

In the direct primary which was held throughout the 192 wards of the state and devoid of violence, POI, as Ize-Iyamu is fondly called, scored 27,838 votes to defeat his nearest rival, former deputy governor, Dr Pius Odubu, who polled 3,766 to emerged a distant second while former Oredo Local Government Area chairman, Mr Osaro Obaze trailed with 2,744.

As the result of the primary which was supervised by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma-led election committee were being reeled out, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Gideon Ikhine, stepped down from the race which comes up on June 23 in Benin City at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium.

Buoyed by the overwhelming victory, Ize-Iyamu, the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2016 election, appealed to Governor Obaseki who defected to the main opposition party last Friday to retrace his steps and come back home to the APC where he rightly belongs.

He said that he made a mistake by aligning himself with the PDP in the last election before going back to the APC which he helped form and emerged as the pioneer zonal scribe.

He said: “I made the same mistake before. I have come to realise that it was a big error and I will not want him as an elder brother to make the same mistake again. He should come back. In APC, he is recognised as a leader but in his new party, it is going to be difficult for him. We are ready to work with him.”

Governor Uzodinma remarked that all the rules and regulations of COVID-19 as regards social distancing were respected in the primary, noting that the process was transparent. He added that Odubu and Obaze stepped down in the contest shortly before the commencement of voting which kickstarted as early as 8 am.

Meanwhile, announcing his resignation and support for Governor Obaseki, Ikhine who was flanked by the PDP state chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi said that he was withdrawing due to the fact that his agenda tallies with that of the governor.

An elated Governor Obaseki said that the likes of Ikhine kept the faith with the PDP through thick and thin and wouldn’t have been able to seek the party’s nomination if not for the role he played to ensure that the party survived.

He said: “If PDP was not there in the state, I would not have been able to switch over. Gideon is like me, he doesn’t give money anyhow. We will continue to work together.”

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